Generating income that will last throughout retirement | Fidelity (2024)

What a lifetime income annuity can do

• Provide guaranteed income¹ for life.
• Diversify your income sources.
• Provide stable and reliable income.

The face of retirement in America has changed radically in recent decades. People are living longer. Pensions are increasingly rare, as evidenced by the fact that by 2022 only 15% of employees had access to a pension plan.² Add in market volatility, as well as questions surrounding the long-term financial health of Social Security, and it's no wonder many people feel anxious about funding their retirement. Today, the responsibility of financing your retirement is likely to fall squarely on your shoulders.

But there is a way to create a plan that can give you a regular "pension-like cash flow"—through a lifetime income annuity. Resembling a traditional pension plan,³ this investment vehicle can provide a guaranteed¹ stream of income that lasts a lifetime and is not vulnerable to the inevitable ups and downs of the market.⁴

An added benefit is that by locking in some guaranteed income, you will have more freedom to invest the remainder of your retirement assets for growth potential as part of a diversified income plan. Investors might want to consider an income annuity to cover the portion of their essential expenses not covered by other predictable income sources like Social Security or a pension.

"What people may not realize is, once you have your essential expenses covered by guaranteed lifetime income, you gain peace of mind and the freedom to pursue the things you love in life," observes Tom Ewanich, vice president and actuary at Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. "Additionally, you may invest your remaining assets for growth, rather than worrying about how to preserve and stretch your portfolio for the rest of your life."

A lifetime income annuity represents a contract with an insurance company that allows you to convert a portion of your retirement savings (an amount you choose) into a predictable lifetime income stream.

Having the backing of an insurance company can help mitigate 3 key retirement risks that, generally, can be very challenging to manage by yourself:

• Market risk – Regardless of whether the market goes up or down, the insurance company is obligated to provide you with income payments every year.
• Longevity risk – Rather than trying to figure out how much of your savings you can spend each year before running out of money, the insurance company assumes the responsibility for paying you as long as you live.
• Inflation risk – By including an annual increase option, where available, you can reduce the risk that inflation will diminish your purchasing power over time.

But not all lifetime income annuities are alike—some might provide higher levels of income with little or no flexibility in accessing assets, while others may provide lower levels of income with greater flexibility.

So you'll want to take the time to understand the differences among them and figure out which features might best meet your particular needs. Let's take a closer look at 2 categories of lifetime income annuities, namely, a fixed lifetime income annuity and a fixed annuity with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit.

What is a fixed lifetime income annuity?

As part of a diversified income plan, a fixed lifetime income annuity can provide you with guaranteed income, regardless of market downturns, for the rest of your life with payments starting immediately or at a future date that you select when you purchase the annuity. In addition, there are optional features you can choose to purchase such as protection for your beneficiaries and an annual payment increase feature to help your payments keep pace with inflation.

The trade-off with an income annuity is that you typically must give up control of the portion of the savings you use to purchase one. In exchange, you don't have to manage your account to generate income, and you can secure a predictable income that lasts the rest of your life. However, be sure to ask your financial advisor about withdrawal features that are available on some income annuities, which may alleviate liquidity concerns.

What's more, fixed lifetime income annuities are often able to provide higher income payments than other products, such as bonds, CDs, or money market funds, due to the "longevity bonus" they can provide (see the chart below). While the payments from traditional income solutions are limited to return of principal and interest from an investment, fixed lifetime income annuities also make available the ability to share in the longevity benefits of a "mortality pool." Effectively, assets from annuitants with a shorter life span remain in the mortality pool to support the payouts collected by those with a longer life span. Put simply, the longer you live, the more money you will receive.

What are the payment options and features?

Fixed lifetime income annuities offer various options that pay different amounts of income,based on the level of beneficiary protection they provide. The 3 most common payment options are:

1. Life with a cash refund – You'll receive income payments for as long as you live. If you pass away before receiving payments that total your original investment, the difference between the original investment and the total payments received will be refunded to your beneficiaries. Because of this beneficiary protection, the payment amount under this option will generally be less than the life-only option described below.
2. Life with a guarantee period – You'll receive income payments for as long as you live. If you pass away before your selected guarantee period ends, payments will continue to your beneficiaries until the end of the guarantee period. Because the company guarantees to make payments for a minimum number of years, the payment amount under this option will generally be less than the life only-option described below.
3. Life only – You'll receive income payments over your lifetime. The life-only option offers the highest possible income payment because it's only for as long as you live; no money goes to your heirs. The key advantage is it provides the most income of all the annuity options, but most people prefer to have some beneficiary protection.

In addition to different payment options, annuities can include different features. One example is an annual payment increase option. This feature is based on a fixed percentage and provides for annual increases in the payment amount beginning on the anniversary following your initial payment. Note that the initial payment amount for an annuity with this option may be lower than an identical annuity without the option.

Use Fidelity's Guaranteed Income Estimator tool to see how the payment options might differ.

Beyond choosing from among product features, there’s another product type that you could consider for your future income needs.

What is a fixed annuity with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit?

As part of a diversified income plan, a fixed deferred annuity with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB) can provide guaranteed income for the rest of your life, starting on a date you select when you’re ready to start receiving income.

These annuities offer:

• Lifetime income – Avoid outliving your assets by guaranteeing a lifetime withdrawal benefit amount, beginning on a date you select.
• Flexibility – You choose when you would like to start receiving income, but if your situation changes and you need some or all of your money sooner, you have the flexibility to access some of your contract’s accumulated value.⁵

From the time of purchase, you will know how much income you are guaranteed (or you and your spouse for joint contracts) at any age you decide to start lifetime withdrawals. Most importantly, you will have the security of a guaranteed cash flow, regardless of market fluctuations and downturns. Finally, in the event of your death, your beneficiaries will receive any remaining balance in your policy.

What's right for you?

Choosing a payment option means focusing on the specific features of a fixed lifetime income annuity and your personal goals. "Consider what's most important to you regarding your retirement plans. Do you need the most guaranteed income available, or are you willing to accept a slightly lower payment to help provide additional protection for your beneficiaries?" says Ewanich.

How do lifetime income annuities fit into a retirement portfolio?

A lifetime income annuity can help diversify your retirement income portfolio so a portion of your income is shielded from market volatility. Generally, Fidelity believes that investors should use no more than half of their assets to purchase income annuities. Why? Well, even though these products provide guaranteed income for life, they may also require that you give up some liquidity and access to that part of your portfolio.